Nailing machine



Oct. 15', 1929.

c. s PRICE MAILING MACHINE l Filed Sept. 9. 1926 A l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TNESS u Y l.

Oct 15, 1929 c. s. PRICE 1,731,726

NAILING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9. 1926 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 /v vE/v Tof? Uhm/6,55, Bmw,

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NAILING MACHINE Filed sept. 9. 192e 12 sheets-sheet' 3 4a gg' v 619` l 78 gz' 33 51` 3U 3133 28 63 65 67 6P 67 n 5 'S "L 4 64 fr 7a "l I a 4f i" f2 WWW MMU Il 45x- L i* l y a Egg, a

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NAILING MACHINE led Sept. 9, 1926 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 'er QAM /lrromvf Oct. 15, 1929. c. s. PRICE l1,731,736

mmm :ummm: Filed sept. 9. 192e '12 sheets-'sheet 6' .1 a am. mm.

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Filed sept. 9. 192e 12 sheets-stie '7 /NVENT Cham/e5 5f Pnl/be.

er v TTFINEY Oct. 15, 1929. c. s. PRICE NAILING HACHINE e. r Z M e 1 NP n t g d m ,m 5 m W W Q.. QM f /a s 8 7. 6 9 a n g 9 a A H ,n M 1 0 s IAM H. 2 T.. AU m. 1..--- W 1 Hnln n !l a Ilm m a m, w 1 P vm H su a im M. 3 Z a M d m .W n u .1 F |l H 1ML-CELL 4. W y u ct. 1.5, 1929. Q s, PRICE 1,731,726 e NAILING MACHINE Filed sept. 9. 192e 12 sheets-sheet 9 Oct. 15, 1929. c. s. PRICE MAILING MACHINE mea sept. v9. 192e 12 sheets-Sheet 1o mwN.. 4

WITNESS Oct. 15, 1929. 4 c, s, PRICE 1,731,726

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Eng. Ei

H TTOHNEY oci. 15', 1929. C. s. Pme 1,731,725

1m11.111s mcnm Filed sept. 9. Y1926 12 sheets-she'et 12 T ESS BY um ,ma/4 l HTTORNEX Patented Get. l5, 1929 UHTED STATES' rarer raie CHARLES S. PRICE, OF BETHLEHECM, PENNSYLVANA, ASSIGNOR TO L, F. GRAIVIMES a y SONS, INC., A COBPORATON OF MARYLAND NAILNG MACHINE My invention relates to nailing machines in general and especially to machines of that character adapted for use in the manufacture of boxes, such as cigar boxes, and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide nailing machine in Which the shocks or parts of a box are assembled and supported in nailingposition and automatically nailed, in each operation of the machine, the mechanism being under the convenient control of the operator and being so arranged that the operation of the machine may be repeated in rapid succession, whereby the machine Will have a high output and the desired boxes'may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a nailing machine in which a single treadle controls both the feeding of parts of the box to be nailed, and the operation of the nailing mechanism, the arrangement being such that the nailing operation occurs after the feeding operation, but With such a short interval that they are practically si1nultaneous. This is an important feature since the quicker these two operations follow each other, While maintaining their proper se-v quence, the more rapidly can the operator turn out boxes With the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for assembling and supporting all of the parts of the box, Without a cover, in inverted position With the bottom extendingl over the sides and ends, andthe parts all unattached to each other, and means for automatically nailing the bottom to each of the sides and ends so as preliminarily to securethe parts together in assembled position and enable the box to be handled as a unit until and during the subsequent fastening together of the sides and ends at the corners of the box in any desired manner and by any suitable means. n

A further object of the invention is to vprovide means for yieldingly supporting the bottom of the box in inverted position so as to afford clearance to permit other parts of the box to be assembled and supported beneath. and in spaced relation to, the bottom, 'the yielding supporting means also permitting the bottom of the box to be depressed into Contact With and nailed to such other parts in the nailing operation and serving thereafter to apply a stripping` force.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide'a box form Which is moved into and out of operative relation to the nailing mechanism, and is adapted in inoperative position conveniently and quickly to be loaded with certain of the box parts, together With means for automatically assembling the remaining parts of the box on the formvafter it is moved into operative position, the box, When nailed, being Withdrawn from the nailing mechanism by and upon the return movement of the form.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for feeding parts of the box to assembled position substantially simultaneously, and yet in sufficient sequence to cause one to overlap another toform 'a butt joint at a corner of the box. v

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting the nailing mechanism, and the driving mechanism therefor, so that the same may be handled as a unit and readily applied to and removed from the main frame of the machine and also conveniently shifted bodily therein toward and away from the Work table and held at the desired elevation above the latter to suit the height of box to be operated upon. By this means the capacity of the machine may be varied independently of the Work table Which may thus be maintained at the height found most comfortable and convenient for the operator and most conducive to efficient results.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a nailing machine which is adapted to nail simultaneously along all four edges of a box or other Work, Which may be conveniently adjusted for boxes of different dimensions, which is reliable and eliicient in operation, and Which may be readily assembled or disassembled as occasion requires.

l/Vith these and other objects in View the invention comprises all of the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter set forth.

lill) CFL u Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved nailing` machine, showing the treadle fully depressed and the various parts in the positions which they occupy when the nails arebeing driven.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section showing the work table. and the parts mounted thereon in top plan view, the treadle and clutch rod mounted below the work table being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation., showingl the in the fully gripping position which it occupies when the treadle is fully raised and the machine is at rest, the box form being` in its inoperative position in which it is partly loaded manually with one side and the bottom of the box.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the box form moved into its operative position, and the `Jaw raised, through the initial downward movement of the treadle, to partly gripping and partly releasing position.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the jaw raised to fully releasing position on the further downward movement of the treadle.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, illustrating the rela-tion between the parts when the form is moved into operative positionand before the operation of the Figure 7 is a similar view, in transverse section, showing the parts in the same relative positions.

Figurel 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the relation of the parts when the jaw is in fully releasing position.

Figure 9 is a similar view, in transverse section, illustrating the parts in the same relative positions.

.d igure 10 is an enlarged fragment-ary side elevation, partly in section, showing the nailed box von the form and partly stripped therefrom ready for withdrawal from under the nailing mechanism.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the form in its inoperative position with a side and the bottom of the box assembled thereon and located by and between the guages on the work table.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of such parts, partly broken away.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section, of the same parts.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 12, but showing the form carrying the nailed box and withdrawn to a position in which the box may be removed.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentaryperspective view showing the relation between the form and the magazines when the form is in its operative position, the box parts Ybeing omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figure 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a box produced by my invention, after being stripped from the form and turned right side up.

Figure 17 is a top plan view showing the overhead driving mechanism, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing the carrier frame (without the nailing and driving mechanisms which it supports), adjustably mounted in the main frame of the machine.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary transverse section through the hammer and chuck frames, the section being taken on lines 19-19 of Figures 22 and 24.

Figure 2O is a detail perspective view of the front side of the hammer frame. l

Figure 21 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the chuck brackets.

Figure 22 is a top plan view of the chuck frame.

Figure 23 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 24 is a top plan view of the hammer frame.

Figure 25 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 26 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the clutch controlling mechanism.

Figures 27 and 28 are fragment-ary detail views of parts thereof.

Figure 29 is a detail view showing the key locking a sleeve on a standard of the main frame.

Figure 8O is a detail view showing a. chuck `mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, and

lmeans under control of the operator for controlling both the assembling means and th driving mechanism.

The main frame 1 preferably consists of a pair of transversely spaced standards 2, which are in the form of round bars and are supported in upright position by a stand or pedestal. 3. These standards project upwardly from the stand with the space between their upper portions free and unobstructed except as hereinafter pointed out. Each standard is mounted in a pair of vertically spaced. aligned socket members 4 which extend forwardly from the body of the stand and support the lower portion of the standard in spaced relation thereto.

The work table 5 is mounted on the lower portions of the standards and comprises a pail of brackets 6 projecting forwardly therefrom and supporting the table top 7. At their rear ends these brackets are formed with sleeves 8 which vslide on the respective standards 2 between the upper and lower socket members l. The sleeves are preferably offset below the table top 7 so as to accommodate the upper socket members 4 when the table is moved to its uppern'iost position.

ln order to adjust the table vertically on the standards l provide a 'transverse shaft 9 journalled in, and extending between, ears 10 projecting rearwardly from the respectivo sleeves. Pinions 11 are mounted on the shaft at its opposite ends and project through slots y12 in the sleeves 8, into meshing engagement with racks 13 provided on the standards. rlhere is a crank lll on One end of Jthe by means of which the pinions may be rotated in one direction ortho other to raise or lower the sleeves 8 to shift the work table 5 to the height foundniost convenient and comfortable to the operator, and suitable for maximum eiliciency. A pawl 15 is pivoted on one of the ears 10 and engages a ratchet 16 on the shaft to retain the table at the desired elevation. However, the table may be more securely fixed in adjusted position by means of keys 17 arranged in grooves or key-ways 18 in the inner surfaces of the sleeves 8 and cX- tending longitudinally throughout the length thereof, as shown in Figure 29. Set screws 19 are threaded into the sleeves and impingo against the keys 17 to force the same into binding engagement with the standards. T he inner ends of the set screws are preferably reduced and proj ect into sockets 2O the keys to hold the saine assembled in thesleeves and against longitudinal displacement therefrom when the set screws are backed olf to release the keys from the standards.

The table top 7 is preferably, although not nee Yssarily, cruciform in plan view, as shown in Figure 2, and is extended forwardly, laterally, and rearwardly, beyond the brackets 6, as indicated at 21, 22 and respectively, the roar extension :itending between the standards 2 and beyond the body portion of the stand rThese extension.' may be formed se} arately from the central portion of the table top and .'itably secured th "cto as by depending lianes abutting against eacl other with bo1 or other fastening devices 25 passing tllererl'irough. ln order to further support A and strengthen this overhanging structure the lateral extensions 22 and the rearward extension are each provided at their outer end with a leg 2G adapted to rest on the floor and preferably formed of telescoping sections secured together, as by a set screw 27, in suitably adjusted position according to the elevation of the work table in the main frame l.

The means for assembling the shooks or .the body 29.

box parts include a box form 28 having a body 29 which conforms in horizontal section to the size and contour of the inside of the box which it is desired to manufacture and which is preferably arranged, where an oblong box is to be made, with its longer dimension eX- tending transversely of the machine. Superposed upon the body is a olatform 30 which is suitably mounted for independent vertical movement with respect thereto. In the present instance the platform is secured to the upper ends of a plurality of vertically disposed guide rods 3l sliding in openings 32 in the body 29. The openings are counterbored at each end to provide upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders 3B and 34; A coiled expansion spring 35 encircles the upper end of each of the guide rods and is seated in the upper counterbored portion of the corresponding opening 32 and interposed between the upwardly facing shoulder 83 thereof and the platform 30, so as to yieldingly support the latter in spaced relation to Stops 3G are provided on the lower ends of the guide rods within the lower counterbored portions of the openings 32 and are adapted to abut against the downwardly facing shoulders 34 to limit the upward movement of the platform under the influence of the springs and to prevent the guide rods from being withdrawn from the body of the form.

The body 29 preferably rests upon, and is suitably secured to, a plate or bed 3'?" which is in Contact with the upper surface of the vork table. `The bed is flush with the end faces of the body of the form, but is preferably of a size to project slightly beyond the front and rear faces of the body to provide upwardly facing shoulders 38 and 39 respectively, which eXtend along these faces and are of a width equal to the thickness ofthe boards from w iioh the bonY is to be constructed. rllhese shoulders are raised slightly above the surface of the work table for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

rllhe box form 28 is mounted to move longitudinally of the machine (that is, forwardly and rearwardly) in a predetermined path over the central portion and forwardentension of the table top. rlhis may be accomplished in any suitable manner. As one means for elfecting this n'iouuting l have provided the bed 37 of the form with a depending lin lll), which operates in, and is guided by, a longitudinal slot 41 formed in the table top. lith this arrangement the form may be readily removed from the machine by merely lift n g it to withdarw the iin from the slot, and this makes it possible conveniently to substitute, when desired, another form of a different size or contour.

The lin projects forwardly beyond the bed Y 37 of the form and carries a finger 4t2 which preferably bears against the front edge of the bed and projects upwardly above the shoulder in substantially parallel relation to the front face of the body 29 and to a height above the plane of the upper surface of the platform 30 when the latter is in its normal or raised position, the upper extremity of the linger being preferably out-turned and inclined forwardly and upwardly as indicated at 421. rThis linger is preferably constructed of a strip of spring material bent at right angles at its lower end to provide a base 43 which is secured to the forwardly projecting portion of the fm and is of greater width than the fin and extends laterally beyond each side thereof and overlaps the surface of the work table.

knob or handle 44 is secured to, and upstands from, the forwardly projecting portion of the fin 40 and provides means whereby the -form may be conveniently moved over the work table manually by the operator of the machine. The forward movement of the form is limited by a stop 45, which in the present instance is in the form of a U shaped member secured to the front edge of the work table in registry with the slot 41 with its extremities projecting upwardly beyond the surface of the work table on cach side of the slot and adapted to engage the end of the base 43 of the spring finger 42.

rt the forward limit of its movement the form is in its inoperative position in which it is located upon the forward extension of the table top and in advance of other parts of the machine hereinafter referred to, so that it is readily accessible and may be conveniently loaded in any suitable manner, as for instance manually by the operator, with certain of the parts of the box, namely, the front side and the bottom thereof. The side of the box is inserted between the front face of the form and the linger 42 and is held therebetween with its lowerl edge resting upon the upwardly facing shoulder 38. The bottom of the box is thereupon applied in inverted position and placed upon the platform 30 with its front edge abutting against the upper portion of the finger 42, which thus serves to locate the bottom in proper position from front to rear of the form with its front edge substantially flush with the outer surface of the front side ofthe box. `While the bottom thus extends over the front side of the box it is to be noted that it is supported in spaced relation thereto in the normal position of the platform.

ln order to expedite the assembling of the side and bottom on the form, I provide a pair of transversely spaced gauges 46 suitably fixed on the work table to receive the form therebetween in its inoperative position.Y

quently forming the ends of the box, Along their front edges these gauges are formed with in-turned lips 47 which engage the vertical edges of the front side of the box as it is inserted behind the linger 42 and locate it in proper position on the form with these edges flush with the end faces thereof. These gauges also proj ect upwardly above the plane of the platform 30 and abut against the adjacent edges of the bottom of the box to locate it in proper position transversely of the machine. are out-turned and inclined laterally and upwardly along their upper edges, to provide wings 48, which coact with each other and also with tthe inclined upper extremity of the finger 42 toguide the bottom as it is placed in position upon the platform. The rear edges of these gauges are preferably out-turned in divergent relation, as indicated at 49. It is also desirable to provide for It will be noted that the gaugesI Y the lateral ust-ment of the gauges relativel ly to each other to permit them to be set for different sizes of boxes. To this end one of the gauges is shown as secured to the work table by means of bolts 50 passing through transverse slots 5l formed in the table top. Although it is not usually necessary, the other gauge may also be similarly mounted.

Nhen the form has been loaded with the front side and the bottom of the box it is moved to the rearward limit of its movement, which is regulated by means of an adjustable stop 52 in the form of a screw threaded into the work table below the top thereof and adjacent the rear end of the slot 41 and forming an abutment for the rear end of the iin 40. The form is then located upon the central portion of the table top and in its operative position in which it is in registry with transverse magazines 53 and a rear magazine 54, the former being each adapted to contain a plurality of ends for the boxes to be manufactured wl'iile the latter is adapted to contain a plurality of boards for forming the rear side. These magazines are mounted on the table top with the transverse magazines 53 extending along the lateral extensions 22 thereof and the rear magazine 54 extending" along the rearward extension 23.

The magazines may be of any suitable construction and in the present instance are of skeleton form and each comprises a pair of parallel guides 55 that are arranged in 0pposed relation and are properly spaced apart to form the sides of the magazine and receive the boards therebetween. The guides are preferably secured to the table top by means of bolts 56 passing through longitudinal slots 57 extending lengthwise of the guides, the boltsV of one guide of each pair also extending through slots 57" formed in the table top at right angles to the guides. This permits the guides to be adjusted both in the direction of their length and also toward and away from each other as may be required in setting the machine" for boxes of diderent sizes. At their inner or adjacentV ends the forward guides of the transverse magazines 53 may be angularly disposed to provide wings 551 projecting forwardly ineslightly divergent relation on opposite sides of the path of the form 28. The bottom of each magazine consists of a plurality of strips or rails 58 which extend lengthwise-thereof and are spaced apart transversely between the guides 55. The rails of the two transverse magazines 53 are spaced apartat their innerV or adjacent ends so that the box form 28 will just fit nicely therebetween. The rails of the rear magazine 54 abut against the-rear edge of the bed 37 of the form when the latter is in its operative position and are raised slightly above the plane of the rails of the transverse magazines 55 so as to be flush with the upwardly facing shoulder 38 at the rear of the form.

Suitable automatic feeding means are provided to supply the boards one by one'from the magazines. In the present instance, such feeding means comprise a device for applying a constant ejecting` force, and a releasing device controlling the action of such ejecting force to discharge one board from each magazine in each cycle of the machine. However, the-invention is not limited to feeding means of this type, and suitable feeding'means of a type applying an intermittent ejecting force may -be employed, if desired.

Each magazine is provided with means for supporting the boards in vertical position therein and applying pressure substantially evenly thereto to force them toward, and eject them from, the inner end or mouth of the magazine. This may be accomplished, for instance, by lazy tongs 59 mounted adjacent the outer end of the magazine, a'follower 60 being pivotally connected to the knuckle at the inner ends of the tongs and being pressed against the outermost board in the magazine through the action of a tension spring 6l connecting the tongs at their outer ends. n

To retain the boards in these three magazines and release them there-from, ag desired, inthe operation of the machine, I provide a jaw 62, which is superposed upon the work table and mounted thereon `to rock about an axis extending transversely of the machine and located in front of the transverse magazines 53. The jaw is preferably U-shaped and has its ends mounted on aligning pivots 63 carried by brackets 64 secured to the table top on opposite sides of the path of movement of the box form 28. In its-normal position the jaw extends rearwardly from its pivots in a substantially horizontal plane with its side members or legs 65 overlying the mouths of the transverse magazines 53 and its central portion 66 overlying the mouth of the rear magazine 5e. On its under face the jaw`1s provided at suitable intervals along its legs and central portion with teeth 67 which bite into the upper edges of the innermost boards in the respective magazines and retain the same therein against ej ectment. As thus held by the jaw the innermost boards in the respective magazines are so located that when the form 28 is in its operative position they are spaced apart from the adjacent faces thereof a distance equal to the thickness of one board. A plurality of recesses 68 are preferably formed in the inner edge of the jaw between the teeth, for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned. In order to adj ust the jaw transversely of the machine in setting the latter for the manufacture of boxes of different sizes, one leg 65 may be formed separately from the rest of the jaw and fitted to an extension 69 of the central portion and suitably clamped thereto in the desired relative position, as by a bolt 70. One or both brackets 64 are also adj ustably secured to the table top by a slot and bolt connection 71. It is also possible conveniently to remove the jaw and substitute another jaw therefor.

The aw 62 is operated by means of an arm 72 projecting rearwardly from the central portion thereof and connected by link 73 to a treadle'74, suitably fulcrumed at 75 in the lower portion of the'stand 3'and having limited rocking movement between upper and lower stops 76 and 77, provided on the stand. The treadle is normally raised against the upper stop 76, and yieldingly held in such position by a tensionY spring 7 8. By depressing the treadle the jaw is swung upwardly about its transverse axis, to disengage the teeth 67 from, and release, the innermost boards in the respective magazines 53 and 54. These Ainnermost boards are thus fed from the magazines under the ejecting force of the lazy tongs 59 and springs 6l, and automatically advanced a distance equal to the thickness of the respective boards, and are thereby brought directly into assembled position on the form 28 against the rear and end faces thereof respectively, the rear side of the box being supported upon the shoulder 39. As the innern'iost boards are ejected, the next succeeding boards are, lof course, moved into position to be engaged by the aw when it returns to its normal or fully gripping position upon the' release of the treadle.

It is to be noted that the arrangement of the jaw is such that the teeth 67 are first released from the innermost board in the rear magazine before they are disengaged from the innermost boards in the transverse magazines. In other words, the aw first assumes, upon the initial downward movement of the treadle, the partly releasing and partly gripping position illustrated in Figure 4, before it is raised, upon the further downward movement of the trea-dle, to the full releasing position illustrated in Figure 5. This is imporibo tant in that it causes the ends of the box to be fed to assembled posit-ion just after the assembling of the rear side of the box, whereby to insure the ends overlapping the rear side to form the usual butt joints at the corners of the box. Of course, ythere is no necessary pause or breakin the upward swinging movement of the jaw and hence the assembling of -the rear side and the ends of the box is practically simultaneous, and yet the proper sequence is effectively preserved. As the bottom of the box is normally supported by the platform in slightly raised position, clearance is afforded so that the rear side and the ends of the box may be assembled beneath the bottom without interference. Vhen thus sembled, the box is ready for nailing.

By virtue ofthe relation between the magazines andthe box form 28 in the operative position of the latter, the boards fed from the magazines in each cycle of the machine are assembled directly on the form in position for nailing. rThis avoids the necessity for complicated assembling means and makes possible a simple assembling means consisting` of merely the feeding means and the box form or other suitable means for supporting such box parts in position to be nailed. lil evertheless, the invention is not limited Yto this simplified form.

he nailing mechanism, and the driving mechanism t-herefor,are preferably arranged and supported as a unit on a carrier frame 79, which is mounted on the standards 2 above the stand 3 and the work table 5, and which may be shifted vertically on the standards and fixed at the desired elevation above the work table to suit the height of the box to be made. This is an important feature since it permits the capacity of the machine to be varied independently of the work table so that the latter may be at all timesmaintained at the height found most comfortable and convenient for the operator, and most conducive to efficient results. The nailingl and driving mechanism may also be readily applied to, and removed from, the main frame of the machine, as occasion requires, in view of the fact that they may be handled as a unit.

In the present instance thecarrier frame 79 comprises transversely spaced side bars 80 and upper, lower, and intermediate cross members 81, y82, and 83 respectively. Each side bar is provided with a plurality of projecting sleeves Sil, slidable vertically on the standards 2. rlhe standards are provided with rac rs 85 with which mesh pinions 66 fixed on a shaft 87 extending' transversely between and journalled in the side bars 80. The shaft 87 has a gear 86 meshing with a relatively small reducing 69 arovided on a shaft 90, which also extends transversely of, and is journalled in, the side bars 80, and which is provided with a crank handle 91 on one end thereof. By turning the crank handle the vlvipeiyze carrier frame may be conveniently shiftedto the desired elevation, in which position it is retained by ratchet 92 mounted on the shaft and engaged by a pawl 93. The carrier frame is further held in adjusted position by fixing the sleeves 84 to the standards 2, as by an arrangement of keys 94, and set screws 95, similar to that hereinbefore above described in connection with the sleeves 8 of the work table brackets 6. y

Projecting forwardly from the carrier frame 79 at each side thereof is a pair of vertically aligned bearings 96 which are preferably, although not necessarily, carried respectively by sleeves 84 at the corresponding side of the frame. Each pair of bearings receives and supports a guide rod 97 which is slidably mounted therein and has its sliding movement limited by a pair of collars 98 fixed on the guide rod above and below the upper bearing 96. A cross-head 99 is se-v cured to, and carried by, the lower ends of the `guide rods so as to be supported below and in spaced relation to the lower bearings 96 when the guide rods are at the lower limit of their movement. Above the lower bearings 96 and between the same and the lower collars 98 vanother cross-head 100 is slidably mounted on the guide rods. These crossheads 99'and 100 form the rear sides of a chuck frame 101 and a hammer frame 102 respectively, such frames being preferably rectangular in yorder to permit the driving of pails simultaneously along all four edges of a Referring to the chuck frame, a pair of arms 103 are carried by, and project forwardlyjand substantially horizontally from, the opposite ends of the cross-head 99 and are formed with slots 104i in which the ends of the front side 105 of the chuck frame are received and adjustably Vsecured in position by means of clamp nuts 106. A bar 107 extends between the front and rear sides of the frame with its ends slidable in slots: 108extending lengthwise thereof, clamps 109 being` provided for securing the ends of the bar in adjusted position. This bar and one of the arms 103 constitute the ends of the chuck frame101. A suitable number of Chucks 110 are provided at the desired intervalsv around. this frame and are adjustably mounted thereon in any convenient manner, as by means of clamps 111. At the end of the frame formed bythe bar 107 the clamps 111 engage brackets 112 secured to the bar 107 and adjustable in a slot 113 extending lengthwise thereof. Atv the other end and the sidesv of the chuck frame these clamps 111 extend into and are adapted to be i-xed in adjusted position in, the slots 104 and 108 respectively.

The hammer frame 102 is substantially similar in construction t-o the chuck frame and comprises a pair of arms 1111, projecting forwardly from the cross-head 100 and formed with slots 115 in which the ends of the front side 116 of the frame are received and held in adjusted position by means of clamp nuts 117. The ends of the frame are formed respectively by one of the arms 114 and a bar 118 extending between the front and rear sides of the frame with its ends slidable in slots 119 therein, and held in suitably adjusted position as by clamps A120. The hammer 121 are located around the hammer frame andl correspond in number and position with the chucks 110. At the end of the frame formed by the bar 118 the hammers are preferably supported by brackets 122 secured to such bar and adjustable in a slot 128 extending lengthwise thereof.. The other end of the frame and the front and rear sides thereof are provided with inwardly projecting slotted plates 124 in which the hammers are supported, and at the same time have suficient play to insure their maintaining positions in vertical alignment with the corresponding chucks.

By virtue of the foregoing arrangement, the chuck and hammer frames may be conveniently adjusted along both dimensions thereof to suit the size of the box to be nailed, and to support the chucks and hammers so that they will occupy their proper positions in relation to the parts of the box assembled on the form 28 for nailing. The recesses 68 in the jaw 62 afford clearance for the chucks and permit them to be located for driving the nails along the edges of the box bottom without interfering with the operation of the jaw.

Suitable nail feeding mechanism is employed with the chucks and hammers, and is preferably supported on the intermediate cross bar 88 of the carrier frame. In the present instance this mechanism is of well known constructionand comprises oscillatory nail boxes or hoppers 125 pivoted at their forward ends in operative relation to inclined track plates 126 from which telescopic nail chutes 127 lead to the respective chucks. Picker bars 128 are mounted at the lower ends of the track plates and have a reciprocatory movement thereacross, under the influence of picker cams 129 carried by the hammer frame 102, so as to control the discharge of the nails into the chutes and deliver them one at a time to the respective chucks.

Vhen the nailing mechanism is at rest the hammer frame 102 is supported in its raised or inoperative position with the hammers retracted in the chucks, and in this position the cross-head 100', forming part of the hammer frame, abuts against the lower collars 98 on the guide rods 97 so that the guide shafts are lifted, and the chuck frame 101 carried thereby is supported in elevated position with the chucks spaced above the bottom of the box assembled on the yielding platform 30. In the operation of the nailing mechanism the hammer frame moves downwardly on the guide rods and its initial downward movement permits the guide rods to slide in their bearings to the downward limit of their movement, whereby to automatically lower the chuck frame and bring the chucks thereof against the bottom of the box. The continued downward movement of the hammer frame advances the hammers in the chucks to drive the nails, the hammers preferably projecting slightly beyond the chucks in the lowermost position of the hammer frame, as illustrated in Figure 1. It is to be noted that the lowering of the chucks and also the action of the hammers, serve to depress the bottom of the box and its supporting platform against the action of the springs 85, so that the bottom is held in contact with the upper edges of the sides and ends as the nails are driven, and is separately secured thereto through the simultaneous driving of the nails along all four edges of the bottom. rl`hus the parts of the box are preliminarily secured together in assembled position, through the nailing operation.

After the nailing, the hammer frame moves upwardly and returns to its normal or inoperative position. As it approaches the end of its upward movement, it lifts the guide rods and the chuck frame through the contact of the cross-head 100 with the lower collars 98. The raising of the guide rods and chucks releases the downward pressure upon t-he box bottom, whereupon the springs Sorestore the platform to its normal position and thus lift the nailed box to the position shown in Fig-V ure 10 in which it is partly stripped from the form 28.

The driving mechanism for rthe hammer frame is preferably mounted on the upper cross member 81 of the carrier frame 7 9 and comprises connecting rods 130 arranged at opposite sides of the machine and pivoted at their lower ends to the hammer frame and at their upper ends to cranks 131 provided at the opposite ends of a transverse driving shaft 132. This shaft is adapted to be driven from an electric motor 138, by means of a suitable gear train vsuch as a gear 134 on the shaft of the motor meshing with a relatively large gear 135 fixed on a sleeve 136 freely rotatable on a transversely extending counter-shaft 137. The sleeve also has a relatively small gear 188 fixed thereon, which meshes with a relatively large gear 139 on the driving shaft. A ily wheel 140 is preferably provided on the motor shaft.

There is also a suitable train of gears 141 for 4transmitting motion from the driving shaft to a transverse shaft 142, provided at its ends with cranks 148 which are connected by links 144 to the nail boxes 125 so as to oscillate the same about their pivots when the machine is in operation. The gears 141 are preferably so arranged that the shaft Kili Cil

is driven at one half of the speed of the driving shaft 132.

ln order to control the rotation of the driving shaft 132 a suitable clutch 145 is provided between the same and the gear 139. rlhis clutch has a cam shoulder 14:5 which is ada-pted to be engaged by a dog 147 mounted on a pivot 14:8, so as to hold the clutch in inoperative position and cause the gear 139 to run freely on the driving shaft. A. spring 1&9 connected to the dog swings it upwardly about its pivot and normally holds it in position for engagement with the shoulder. The clutch is released to rotate the driving shaft by swinging the dog downwardly out of the path of rotation of the shoulder 1%. rlhis may be accompished by a pull rod 150 which passes upwardly through a fork 151 at the free end of the dog and is formed with a downwardly facing shoulder 152 that engages the dog when the latter is in itsraised position and is yieldingly held in engagement therewith by means of a spring 153 connected to the rod and forcing it forwardly within the fork. At its lower end this rod is pivotally connected to one end of an elbow lever 154 fulcruniied or. di) of the car ier frame 79, the other end of the elbow lever being connected by link to an arm 156 projecting from a clutch rod 157 arranged substantially vertically at one side of the machine. The clutch rod is supported by, and mounted to rock in, upper and lower bearing brackets 158 and 159, the upper bracket being secured to the car ier frame 79 and supporting the clutch rod intermediate of its ends while the lower bracket is secured to the lower portion of the stand 3 and has the lower end of the `clutch rod mounted therein with a step bearing.

T he arm 156 is provided with a sleeve or collar 160 mounted on the clutch rod 157 to turn therewith. The sleeve is preferably formed of companion sections arranged, respectively, above and below the upper bracket 158, and telescoping therethrough with each other, a set screw 161 serving to hold the sections together. lily this means the arm 15S is retained at all times in operative relation to the elbow lever 154e, while its sleeve 160 telescopes with, and is adapted to slide vertically along, the clutch rod 157 in the vertical adjustment of the carrier frame 79.

Fixed on the clutch rod, adjacent its lower' end, is a collar 162 provided with an out-- standing pin 163, received in a fork 16d, which is movable with, and about the same axis as, the treadle lever 74. IThe arrangement is such that when the treadle lever is depressed to its position against the lower stop 77 it turns the clutch rod 157, through the fork 1.61 and pin 163, and rocks the arm 156 and the elbow lever 15d. This causes the elbow lever 15d to draw the pull rod 150 downwardly, which in turn, through the engagement of its shoulder 152 with the free end of the dog 1117, swings the dog downwardly against the action of its spring M9 to clear he shoulder 141-6, thereby releasing the clutch 145 so that the driving shaft 132 is rotated by and with its gear 139, to operate the nailing mechanism;

lt will thus be seen that the single treadle 7 d controls the automatic feeding of the rear eine and the ends of the box, the automatic assem1 ling of the same in position for nailing, and the operation of the nailing mechanism. Furthermore, the downward movement of the treadle rst moves the jaw 62 upwardly to fully releasing position., before disengaging the dog 147 from the clutch shoulder 146. To insure this the prongs of the fork 1G11 are spaced apart a greater distance than the diameter of the pin 163, to provide lost motion between the treadle and the clutch rod 157. Therefore the nailing mechanism is caused to operate just after the feeding mechanism, and their proper sequence is maintained, although one follows the other with such a short interval that the operations are practically simultaneous.

Should it be necessary to make an adjustment after the assembling of the parts the operator may pause in the downward movement of the treadle before throwing the clutch, through the lost motion connection, to cause the parts to be nailed. Or the operator may allow the 'treadle to return to its initial position, as the operation of the jaw 62 will not r ve the effect of releasing further box parts while a box is assembled on the form 28. Thus should the operator either pause or release the treadle, the machine is arrested in its cycle between the assembling operation and the nailing operation, so that the operator may make any adjustment which might be necessary. TWhen next the operator depresses the treadle so as to engage the clutch, the nailing operation is performed precisely though the downward movement of the treadle had not' been interrupted. rlhe operation of the clutch may thus be selectively controlled.

rlhe driving shaft 132 is provided with the Y usual knock o pin loo which, as the shaft rotates, impinges against the pull rod 150 and forces the same rearwardly in the fork 151 against the action of the spring 153, to disengage the shoulder 152 of the pull rod from the dog 147. On being thus released the dog 147 is restored by the spring 149 to its normal position to engage the shoulder 146 and automatically throw the clutch to stop the machine when the driving shaft has completed one revolution. The pull rod 150 is moved upwardly when the treadle 74 is released, and re-engages the dog to set the clutch control mechanism for the next operation.

From the foregoing description the operation of my improved nailing machine will be obvious. Outlining it briefly, the operator 

